National Academic Council: Annual Meeting and Re-Constitution

National Academic Council (NAC) has been re-constituted for the next three years from 2008-2010 at its annual meeting on March 29, 2008.

Activity: Annual Meeting of NAC

 NAC consists of 25-30 members for a term of three years. This steering organ is designed to ensure socio-politico-religious representation while duly reflecting the diversity of Pakistani society. NAC is responsible for overseeing that the Institute is generally playing its role in the light of its vision, for approving the annual research program, and reviewing its implementation. NAC meets at least once a year for reviewing the policies and progress of its current projects.

Welcoming the participants in his opening remarks at the meeting, Prof. Khurshid Ahmed said that the institute would do its best to benefit from the knowledge, scholarship and experience of the members of NAC. He iterated that self reliance was an important point of reference of IPS. The chairman further elaborated the role of Governing Body, Executive Committee and NAC of the institute.

After the review of the performance of the year 2007-08 by DG, Khalid Rahman, Dr. S M Zaman commented on the reconstitution of NAC that there were more Educationists in the new council, which was a good sign. Relating it to the future course of action, Dr. Zaman emphasised upon putting more focus on ‘Education with reference to the ideology of Pakistan’ in future projects.

Mr. Akram Zaki highlighted the need to develop research projects on Pakistan’s relations with India in the context of Security. He also talked about the importance of studying Pak-Iran relations.

Delineating on the global politics, Mr. Shamshad Ahmed Khan said that 70 per cent of the natural resources of the world were in Muslim countries and the GDP of these countries was only 5 per cent. He talked about value of doing research on ‘Energy Politics and Conflicts.’

            Prof. Fateh Muhammad Malik discussed the importance of  reviewing the education policy, system and curriculum and developing an educational environment devoid of any external pressure.

            On the same lines, Dr. Iffat Dar talked about the training programs and workshops for teachers. She said that IPS education project should aim at disseminate awareness on the benefits of research as well. She also discussed the importance of doing more work on gender studies.

            Dr. Anis Ahmed said that IPS needed to study growing Indo-China ties while focusing on Pak-China relations. While mentioning the American interests in the region, he said that IPS should study the Pak-American relations in the context of regional and global political dynamics.

            Appreciating the work of the Institute, Dr. Rafiq Ahmed suggested that IPS needed to disseminate its research, and for that matter, using CDs and DVDs and TV channels were good  options. He also opined that Mphil and Phd students should be assisted in their research projects.

            Mr. Amanullah Khan recommended that the institute should give more focus to ECO, Economic Policy vis-à-vis foreign investment, Indian role in the region, and cooperation with Central Asian States.

            Dr. Mahmoodul Hassan Butt suggested that the institute should build closer linkages with the universities  and  educational  institutes and work more on the policy research regarding developing modern education system, which would fulfill the contemporary demands. He opined that IPS should bring the educationists together to bring new curriculum and teacher training programs.

            Mr. Fasih-ud-din  emphasized on increasing work on WTO, extending relationships with the institutes of other countries, refurbishing website along the current trends and developing a better marketing strategy.

            Lt. Gen. (r) Assad Durrani discussed the need to change the conservative parameters of research to work on controversial  topics such as Indian and Israeli role in the world, growing Indian influence, American strategic relations with India etc. He also suggested that western research studies should be disseminated in Pakistan for the information and betterment of the people.

            Barrister Sadia Abbasi iterated that Islam and Pakistan were the main reference points. She suggested that the institute should use its capabilities of developing programs and courses on teacher training and curriculum for the education sector. Dr. Khalid Alvi also talked about working on the ideological background of Pakistan in the curriculum.

            Dr. Hasan Sohaib Murad implied that the institute needed to develop the capacity to initiate, facilitate and drive research in the country. He suggested developing an online forum for the people of the world to participate in policy debates and dialogues.

            Mr. Tariq Fatimi talked about increasing debate on the problems and challenges faced by Pakistan from within and outside. He stressed on the point that the institute should work on strengthening identity while keeping the friends and foes in the West together.

            At the end of the meeting, Prof. Khurshid Ahmed thanked the members of NAC for enriching the debate and sharing their very useful ideas with the institute.